2013 US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional: Day 4

BOCA RATON, Fla. (November 27, 2013) – The 2013 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Girls Thanksgiving Interregional wrapped up its fourth day of play on Wednesday in Boca Raton, Fla., and featured games for the 1996 and 1997 age groups. The six-day tournament will take place November 24-29 at Spanish River Athletic Park, and will feature elite girls teams in the 1996-1999 age groups from each of the four US Youth Soccer regions.

The nearly 300 leading players participating in the event have been selected from US Youth Soccer State Association and regional level evaluations. Throughout the week, players will train at practices and compete in matches against other regions, in front of national staff and collegiate coaches to maximize their exposure for selection to the next level of play.

US Youth Soccer ODP is the nation's original player identification program. With programs in all 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, it is available to any player, regardless of hometown or club affiliation. US Youth Soccer ODP has continued its tradition of elite competition and player development for more than 30 years, and is the only development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer, the National Women’s Soccer League, and a majority of current and past national and youth national team members as alumni. To learn more, visit www.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/OlympicDevelopmentProgram.

Highlights from Day 4:

1996 Girls: Region III v. Region II

Elizabeth Stam’s late game heroics gave Region II a 1-0 win against Region III. The entire match went scoreless up until the very end when Stam found the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

1996 Girls: Region IV v. Region I

The second 1996 match of the day resulted in a Region I win. Both teams fought hard to convert an opportunity, but went into halftime scoreless. In the 50th minute, Carissima Cutrona was able to break the stalemate, and put Region I in the lead. Just six minutes later however, Region IV recovered as Mariah Lee tied the match. Both teams continued the battle but in the end, Meghan Doyle got the much desired goal late in the 80th minute to give Region I the 2-1 win.

1997 Girls: Region III v. Region II

Region III got a 3-2 victory against the 1997 Region II team. Region II got off to a good start when Maya Piper scored just five minutes within stepping on the pitch. Region III however didn’t let the early disadvantage throw them off, and got two goals before halftime by Jennifer Westendorf and Mariana Speckmaier. In the second half, Westendorf was able to give Region III more of a cushion when she scored an additional goal in the 45th minute. Region II’s Katie Murray was able to get a late goal in the 88th minute, but Region III ultimately got the win.

1997 Girls: Region IV v. Region I

Region IV obtained a win against the 1997 Region I team to finish the day. Grace Hancock produced the first goal of the match for Region IV in the 24th minute of play. Region I’s Natalie Turner-Wyatt found the equalizer in the 51st minute, but Region IV kept focused and scored two more goals in the following 15 minutes. Milan Moses scored in the 55th minute, and Grace Zas got a 64th minute goal to give Region IV a 3-1 win.